Railway tie anchor



March 5, 1968 I A. GEHNERT L I RAILWAY TIE ANCHOR Filed Nov. 14, 1966FIGJ FIG. 2

`(M/J/ /J' /N VENTO? ADAM V GEHNERT ATTORNEYS United States Patent O3,371,867 RAHLWAY TIE ANCHOR Adam Gelnert, 500 E. Belam St., Glendive,Mont. 59330 Filed Nov. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 593,864 Claims. (CI. 238-315)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A railway tie anchor having wall portionsupstanding from a base, each of said wall portons having at least oneslot identical to a slot in the other, each slot intersecting the upperedge of the wall and extending toward the base at an angle therewith,the slot conforming generally to the contour of the rail flange portionto be gripped, with the vertical height of the :anchor being such thatwhen installed on a rail a portion thereof extends into abuttingrelationship with a rail supporting cross tie to anchor the tielongitudinal of the rail.

This invention relates generally to anchors for railroad ties and morespecifically to a new and improved anchor which fixes railroad tieslongitudinal of the rail in a more positive and simple manner thanheretofore possible Railway tie anchors have been wdely used in theprior art for the purposesof fixng ties longitudinally of the rail toprevent movement thereof under the cyclical loading imposed by trafiicover the rails. The problem of maintaining ties fixed with respect tothe longitudinal direction of the rail has been increased in recentyears in that heavier lo ads, heavier power units and faster speeds havecaused greater problems with track expansion. These loads cause trackmovement which in turn, if the ties are not anchored to the track, causeprogressive movement of the ties to the point where the ties stack up atcertain points leaving large gaps between ties. If this condition is notcorrected, track failure ultimately results because of improper supportthereof. The anchors, fixed to the lower face of the rail, engage theties or tie plates so that movement of the ties is resisted.

Many prior art anchors are configured and dsposed on the rail in such -amanner 'as to abut against the tie plate which supports the rail. Thetie plate is connected to each tie by conventional spikes driventherethrough into the tie. A primary disadvantage of this type of anchoris that the strain, mposed through longitudinal movement of the rail orforces tending to move the tie longitudinally on the rail, is directedthrough the anchor against the tie plate thereby tending to` loosen thespikes holding the plate and rail eventually resulting in -a loose plateand consequently a loose rail. Such anchors are illustrated by theSpencer Patent No. 2,522,314 and the Liebenthal Patent No. 3,019,988.The above-mentioned problem is solved to a certain degree by anchorswhich include a depending segment extending in such a manner to abut thetransverse face of an adjacent tie thereby imposng stresses directly onthe tie itself and avoiding loosening of the plate. These prior artdevices, however, :are formed from bar stock, the formation of which isexpensive and not subject to mass production techniques as is requiredin articles of this type. Such prior art anchors are typified by thepatents to Gillmor No. 1,292,756 and Payne No. 2,936,127.

Another problem, inherent in prior art anchors, is that the size of the`rail is different for curved :and straight track so that, heretofore,two types of :anchors had to be stored a-nd supplied in order to meetthe requirements of track laying crews. This duplication in supply isexpensive and oftentimes results in mix ups `and delays in track layingwhere the wrong type of anchor is furnished.

3,37l,867 Patented Mar. 5, 1968 It is an object of this invention toprovide a new and improved rail tie anchor which avoids thedisadvantages of prior art tie anchors.

It is another object of this invention to provide a-rail tie anchorwhich may be interchangeably used on curved and straight rail byproviding a compatible dual slot configuration in the anchor formed toreceive rails of different sze.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tie anchor whichcan be mass produced simply and inexpensively by furnishing a structurewhich is formed from plate material.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a rail tieanchor formed from plate material which is flexible for easyinstallation and yet of snfiicient depth to contact the rail tiedirectly and thereby avoid stress on the tie plate and spike system byproviding a rail anchor having an angled orientation when installed on atrack.

It is still a further object of this invention to furnish a tie anchorhaving dual rail size capability by providing a structure having angledrail-receiving slots therein.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference tothe following detaled description` when viewed in light of theaccompanying figures wherein like parts throughout the figures thereofare indicated by like numerals and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional elevational view of an anchor in `accordancewith the invention taken along the lnes 1-1 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the anchor of FIGURE 1 installedon a rail; and

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the installed anchor of FIGURE 3.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 'and 2 for a more detaled description, ananchor 10 is formed from steel plate bent into a U-shaped configuration(FIGURE 2), comprsing a base portion 12 and upstanding walls 14 and 14',terminating in upper surf-aces 16 and 16'. A first slot, shown generallyat 18 and defined on the lower edge thereof by a side surface 19,intersects the upper edges 16 and 16' of the side portions 14 and 14'and extends at an angle toward the base portion 12. The lower end of theslot 18 defines upper and lower jaws 20 and 22 respectively for grippingthe flange of a railroad rail as will be described in more detail below.The upper jaw 20 has formed thereon a flange grip surface 24 and anexpansion surface 26, the surface 26 being of a smaller angle withrespect to the side surface 19 than the grip surface 24. The lower endof the slot terminates in a slot bottom surface 28 with stress relievingcutouts 30 formed in the corners defined by the intersection of surfaces 19 and 26 therewith. The upper end of the slot 18 is providedwith a slot top surface 52 dsposed perpendicular to the side surface toform a lug 34, the purpose of which will be described below.

A second slot shown generally `at 36, dsposed to intersect the uppersurfaces 16 and 16' of the side portion 14 and 14', is formed in theanchor 10 at an angle substantially opposite to that of and intersection'the first slot 18. The lower edge of the second slot 36 is defined by aside surface 38, the lower end thereof defining upper and lower -j aws40 and 42 respectively. The upper jaw 40 has formed thereon a flangegrip surface 44 and an expansion surface 46 angularly related to oneanother in a similar fashion to the flange grip 'and expansion surfaces20 and 24 of the slot 18. The slot 36 is also provided with a slotbottom surface 48 and stress relieving cutouts 50 at the intersectionthereof with surfaces 42 and 46. The upper end of the slot 36 isprovided with a slot top surface 52 which is dsposed perpendicular tothe side surface 38 to form a second lug 54 thereon. The second slot 36serves to provide a material cutout, reducing the cross sectional areaof both the jaw 20 and the material supporting the lug 34 to a degreesuflicient to provide the desired resiliency for the anchor so that itis better adapted for the purposes for which it is to be used.

The slot 36 also provides a rail gripping structure of differentdimensions than those of the slot 18 so that the anchor may be usedinterchangeably on rails of different size. For example, 115 lb. rail isnormally used for straight track and 132 lb. rail is normally used forcurved track. Heretofore, it has been necessary to stock and supply twodifferent-sized anchors so` that the curved track, as well as straighttrack, can be anchored. By providing the dual capability of the 'anchorof this invention, the duplication and possible mix up inherent in theanchors of the prior art is avoided. The slots also complernent oneanother by providing a means to achieve the necessary 'esilience asdescribed above. In order to identify the proper slot for use with aparticular rail, a cutout 56 is provided in the base portion 12 toindicate the required slot, for example, for the curved rail. In theevent that the slot 36 is used to grip a rail, then slot 18 will serve amaterial-reducing means for the jaw 40 and lug 54.

Referring now to FIGURE 3 of the drawings, the anchor is shown installedon a conventional rail 58. The rail is provided With base flanges 60 and62 which form a lower rail surface 64 and sloping upper flange surfaces66 and 68 respectively. The rail is supported on a conventional tieplate 70 which, in turn, is mounted on a tie 72 and is connected theretoby spikes 73. The flanges 60 and 62 terminate at their outer surfaceswith vertically disposed flange faces 74 and 76 respectively. As can bebest seen by reference to FIGURE 4 the anchor 10 is mounted on the rail58 so that the Wall 14' thereof abuts the transverse vertical surface ofthe tie 72 to provide an anchor therefor.

Assuming that the rail 58 is a straight rail, the anchor is installed asfollows: The anchor is fitted on the rail flange so that the flange 60enters the slot 18 as far as can be accomplished by hand. In thiscondition, the geometry of the jaws 20 and 22 and the lug 34 is suchthat an interference will occur primarily between the flange grippingsurface 24 and the upper flange surface 66 and between the lug 34 andthe lower rail surface 64 precluding further movement of the anchor byhand. At this point, the anchor is struck, on the end portion at thepoint indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 3, with suitable force to wedgethe flange gripping surface 24 on the upper jaw 20 and the side surface19 on the lower jaw 22 onto the flange 60 to provide suitable grippingthereof. When the anchor has moved transversely of the rail to a certaindegree, the lug 34 will pass the flange face 76 and Will snap up intothe position shown in FIGURE 3 thereby looking the anchor 10 to the rail58. The surfaces 19, 24 and 26 embed themselves into the rail 58 toprovide required holding power for the anchor without causing structuraldamage to the flange 60. In this condition, the anchor will not movelongitudinally of the rail and, by installing the anchor on either sideof and in abutment with the transverse surface of the ties 72, the tiesare longitudinally fixed with respect to the rails. The slot bottom 28prevents overdriving of the anchor and thereby breakage thereof and thecutouts 30 provide stress relief means to prevent stress concentrationat the corners of the bottom of the slot 18.

Due to the slope or angle disposition of the slot 18 with respect to thebase portion 12, the anchor is, in an installed position, at an -anglewith respect to the lower surface of the rail 58 and the tie 72 so thata large portion of the surface area of the wall 14' extends intoabutting engagement with the transverse surface of the tie 72. Thisarrangement provides -a first benefit in that a suitable area of contactbetween the anchor 10 and the tie 72 is thereby provided withoutimposing too large a cross sectional area in the flexing portions of theanchor, i.e., the section beneath the lug 34 and the cross sectionalarea of the upper jaw 20. If the slot 18 were to be in parallelrelationship with the lower surface of the base portion 12 as is commonin prior art anchors, the resulting depth, to extend the anchor beneaththe rail to the transverse surface of the tie '72, would result in anextremely large cross-sectional area in the material beneath the lug 34thereby rendering the anchor unnecessarily rigid and difiicult, if notimpossible to install.

By providing direct contact with the tie 72, strain due to forcestending to shift the tie longitudinally with respect to the rail are notplaced on the tie plate 20 or the spikes 73 thereby avoiding looseningthereof with the attendant disadvantages set forth above. The angledorientation of the slots in the anchor also allows the compatibleinclusion of two slots which would be impossible if the slots weresubstantially parallel to the base of the anchor.

The structure of the anchor is also such that, in the event of aderailment, the upper jaw 20 will fr-acture thereby preventing damage tothe flange 60.

What has been set forth above has been intended to be exernplary of anembodiment incorporating features in accordance with the invention toenable those skilled in the art in the Understanding thereof. It shouldtherefore be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims,the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.

What is new and therefore desired to be protected by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. A railway tie anchor comprising:

a base portion;

wall portions extending upwardly from said base portion;

at least one slot intersecting the upper edge of each of said wallportions in identical fashion and extending toward said base portion atan angle therewith, the `lower end of said slot conforming generally tothe contour of the lower surface flange face and upper surface of oneflange of a rail, the lower end of said slot defining upper and lowerjaws adapted to be driven transversely of a rail flange into grippingengagement with the upper and lower surfaces thereof, the upper end ofsaid slot conforming generally to the lower surface and flange face ofthe other flange of a rail to define a locking lug for engaging thatflange face;

the vertical height of said anchor being such that when installed on arail a portion thereof extends into abutting relationship with a railsupporting cross tie to anchor said tie longitudinal of said rail.

2. An anchor in accordance with claim 1 wherein a relief slot isdisposed in said wall portions beneath the upper end of said firstmentioned slot.

3. An anchor in accordance with claim 1 wherein one portion of saidupper jaw is formed with a gripping surface of greater angle withrespect to the surface of said lower jaw than the remaining portionthereof.

4. A railway tie anchor comprising:

a base portion,

upstanding wall portions on said base portion,

a first slot intersecting the upper edge of said wall portions andextending toward said base portion at an angle therewith, the lower endof said slot conforming generally to the contour of the lower surfaceflange face and upper surface of one flange of a rail, the lower end ofsaid slot defining upper and lower jaws adapted to be driventransversely of a rail flange into gripping engagement with the upperand lower surfaces thereof, the upper end of said slot conforminggenerally to the lower surface and flange face of the other flange of arail to define a looking lug for engaging that flange face,

a second slot similarly configured to said first slot disposed in saidwall portions in an intersecting oppositely disposed direction to saidfirst-mentioned slot.

5. An anchor in accordance with claim 4 Wherein the vertical height ofthe anchor is such that When installed on a rail, a portion thereofextends into abutting relationship with a rail supporting cross tie toanchor said tie longitudinal of said rail.

`6. An anchor in accor-dance with claim 4 wherein one portion of saidupper j-aw is formed With a gripping surface of greater angle withrespect to the surface of said lower jaw than the remaining portionthereof.

7. An anchor in accordance with claim 4 wherein said second slot isforrred to accommodate a rail of different dimensions than thataccommodated by said first-mentioned slot.

8. An anchor in accordance with claim 7 wherein one portion of saidupper jaw is formed with a gripping surface of greater angle withrespect to the surface of said lower jaw 'than the remaining portionthereof.

9. An anchor in accordance with claim 7 Wherein the corners of the lowerends of each of said slots are provided With stress-relieving cutouts.

10. An anchor in accordance with claim 9 wherein one portion of saidupper jaW is formed with 'a gripping surface of greater angle Withrespect to the surface of said lower jaw than the remaining portionthereof.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 609,389 Great Britain.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Exam'ner. ARTHUR L. LAPOINT, Exam'ner.

R. A. BERTSCH, Assistant Exam'ner.

